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NEWS | Edinburgh sign 'The Sledgehammer' ahead of next season

Edinburgh's third signing on #MagicMonday is Perpignan wing and Fiji Sevens star Eroni Sau who joins the club on a two-year-deal.

Nicknamed ‘The Sledgehammer’ due to his ferocious attacking and defensive play, Sau made his Fiji Sevens debut in 2017 and an immediate impact on the World Rugby Sevens Series earned him the Rookie of the Season title and a place in the overall Series Dream Team.

Sau made his full international debut in XV-a-side last November, scoring a hat-trick in Fiji's 68-7 victory over Uruguay.

On signing for the capital club, Sau, 29, said: “I’m really excited by the opportunity to join Edinburgh and to test myself in the Guinness PRO14 and in Europe too.

“After speaking with Richard Cockerill and my friend Viliame Mata, I knew it would be a great move for my rugby career and also for my family. I can’t wait to work hard in the summer to earn a place in the team next year.”

Edinburgh Head Coach Richard Cockerill added: “Anyone who has watched sevens will know Eroni Sau. He’s a very strong and powerful runner, he’s tough and very combative.

“A nickname like ‘The Sledgehammer” gives you an idea of what he does with and without the ball, and I’m delighted he’s chosen to join Edinburgh and be part of what we’re building here for next season and beyond.”

Sau initially made his way in rugby league playing for local side, Saru Dragons. After a brief spell playing in the Cook Islands, the winger was encouraged to take up rugby sevens, and on that advice, joined Fijian club Red Rock.

In 2014 he was recruited as a Special Constable at Totogo Police Station in Suva and joined the Fiji Police rugby team.

Three years later, he was selected to represent Fiji Drua in the National Rugby Championship, and it was here where he caught the attention of Fiji Sevens Head Coach Gareth Baber. Since his international sevens debut in 2017, Sau has scored a total of 185 points (37 tries) in 58 matches.

He was named Impact Player at the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens, and won five gold medals and one bronze in the 2017/18 World Rugby Sevens Series.

He was part of the Fiji Sevens side that won silver at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and which finished overall runner-up in the 2017/18 World Rugby Sevens Series.

Sau signs for Edinburgh from French club USA Perpignan, whom he joined in May 2018.